Electric switch



F. W. LOEFFLER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FlLED mma. 19H.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED w.` LOEFFLER, OF IRONDnaUroIT,r NEW YORK, ASSTGNOR To THE BRYANT kELECTRIC COMPANY, or BRIDGErORT, CONNECTICUT, AA CORPORATION or CON- y NECTICUT; y

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

Application led January 3, 1917. Serial No. 140,479.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED W. LOEFFLER, a citizen of the United States of America, and yresiding at Irondequoiuin the county of Monroe and-*State of New York, have invented a certain new and ImprovedElectric Switch, specification.

My invention relatesto electric switches and particularly to fiush switches such as arey commonly employed `for controlling lighting circuits, the Object of my invention being to provide a compact switch device for independently controlling different groups of lights from a single point.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section drawn to an enlarged scale, through a switch in which my invention is embodied in one of which the following is a `form Fig. 2 is a plan thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a combined terminal used for connection to one of the mainleads.

It is common practice in lighting installations, particularly ifor dwellings, to provide independent groups of lights in a y single room or hall, or the like, and control these groups independently. Heretofore the control has generally been effectedv through a single switch of such character that in Order to change from one group to the other, it is necessary to pass through the intermediate group or groups successively. In other words, it is impossible to obtain directly the lighting group which it is desired to utilize. Such switches have the advantage of compactness however, and are of such type that they can be mounted in a single gang switch box, a feature of considerable valuek in domestic installations sincethe switch panel may be thereby made inconspicuous and neat. By the present invention I attain this end and at the same time provide a switch installation of such nature that the lighting groups may be controlled absolutely independently of each other.

17 and 18 on opposite sides of the barrier 11, the latter and the side wall of the insulating body being suitably recessed to this end. At the corners of the base and on the opposite side thereof, I arrange cooperating switch terminals 19 and 2O in the respective switch chambers 12 and 13, and preferably also having the form of straps, the upper ends of which are offset to overlie depressed ledges and carry binding screws 21 and 22 for the leads to the respective independent groups of lights.

Identical switch mechanisms are employed in the two switch chambers, and they are of such character and size that the entire device is no larger than the ordinary switch body adapted to be mounted in a single gang switch boX. Each mechanism comprises a switch blade 23 adapted to bridge the switch terminals 18 19, or 17-20 and carried by an escapement plate 24.- mounted freely on the switch spindle 25. This plate is subjected to the action of the switch sprinoF 26, one end of which engages the lug 2l?? on the plate, while the other` end is engaged by a lug 28 on the crown plate 29 fast with the spindle 25. A coperating crown plate 30 is carried at the foot of the spirally grooved cylindrical post 31 on which works the hollow push button 32 having spiral ribs 33 to engage the spiral grooves 34 of the post'. In as much as the push button is held against rotation by its guides 35 which engage the guide pins 36 carried by the frame member 37, the downward push of the button 32 serves to rotate the post 31 and thus not only tensions the spring 26 but also operates (through spindle 25) an escapement mechanism 38 of well known type for releasing the plate 24 and thus permitting the blade 23 to move to its succeeding position.

In the position of the switch shown both blades 23 are in the on position and the lamps of both lighting groups A and B are lighted. If the right hand button 32 is depressed the blade 23 is moved to Off position, and the circuitthrough group B is broken. Iif it is wished to reestablish this group, it is not necessary as heretofore, to go through the operations of iirst extinguishing all the lamps, then lighting group A and thereafter again lighting group B. But upon the depression Of the righthand button the lighting of the group B is at once restablished. The same would Vbe equally true of the lights in group A. Yet the switch has merely the appearance of an ordinary two button snap switch and occupies no more space and requires no elaborate wiring.

Various modifications in detail of con struction will readily occur to those skilled in the art which do not depart from what l claim as my invention.

I claim as my invention l. An electric switch comprising a cupshaped insulating body, barrier means subdividing the interior thereotI into separate switch chambers, independent switch mechf anisms and switch terminals mounted in said switch chambers, wire terminals at the opposite ends ot said body respectively connected to said independent switch terminals, in combination with a wire terminal mounted on said body and comprising a strap having lugs ol'lset into the respective switch chambers to cooperate with the switch mechanisms therein, substantially as described.

2. An electric switch device comprising a cup-shaped insulating body adapted to be mounted in a single gang standard outlet box, independent switch mechanisms mounted within said cup-shaped body, means for operatingr said switches independently, and a pair oi' electrically connected switch ter minals projecting in ditterent directions into operative association with the respective switch mechanisms.

3. An electric switch device comprising a cup-shaped insulating body adapted to bc mounted in a single gang standard outlet box, independent switch mechanisms mounted within said Cupshaped body, means for operatingsaid switches independently, a wire terminal mounted on said body and a pair of switch terminals projecting from said wire terminal at an angle to each other into operative association with the respective switch mechanisms.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

FRED lV. LOEFFLER. Witnesses MARGARET lVoon, DAvID A. RaMsAY. 

